Can traditional pension plans meet the needs of a modern workforce?

The Urban Institute launched a new interactive web tool, “The State of Retirement: Grading America’s Public Pension Plans.” This unique report card grades plans on retirement income provided to short-term and long-term employees, incentives to attract and retain a productive workforce, and funds set aside to cover promised benefits. 

What does it take to get an “A” and who is failing?  A panel representing the diverse perspectives of researchers, city leaders and unions discussed what the grades mean for government, taxpayers and public employees. 

Moderator

• Donald Marron, Institute Fellow and director of Economic Policy Initiatives, Urban Institute

Panelists

• Dan Doonan, labor economist, Research and Collective Bargaining Services, AFSCME
• Richard Johnson, director, Program on Retirement Policy, Urban Institute
• Stephanie Miner, mayor, City of Syracuse
• Kim Rueben, director, State and Local Finance Initiative, Urban Institute

event materials

• Follow the NYTimes story on the research.
• Agenda
• Speaker Biographies

Photo credit: MrDoomits / Shutterstock